US eases ban on liquids in air travel

Seven weeks after imposing a ban on nearly all liquids in airline travelers' carry-on bags in response to terrorism fears, US transportation officials today will begin letting passengers carry on small amounts of personal-care products, as well as drinks bought in secured zones of airports.

Starting today, travelers will be allowed to bring 3-ounce containers of health and beauty products such as toothpaste, shampoo, and lotions -- but only enough to fit in a single quart-size, clear bag. Coffee and other beverages, as well as toiletries that are bought at stores between security checkpoints and airline gates, will also be permitted to be carried on .

The Transportation Security Administration had restricted such products and ordered passengers to discard or finish drinks bought at the gate before boarding, after officials in the United Kingdom last month exposed an alleged terrorist plot to blow up 10 trans-Atlantic jetliners using liquid explosives carried onboard in drink containers or smuggled in carry-on luggage.

``After the initial, total ban, we have learned enough from the UK investigation to say with confidence that small, travel-size liquids are safe to bring through security checkpoints in limited numbers," TSA administrator Edmund ``Kip" Hawley said. ``A total ban is not needed from a security point of view."

TSA and airport officials will continue to subject goods being delivered for sale to airport concessionaires to extensive scrutiny. Drugstore products in containers larger than 3 ounces will be allowed in carry-ons if bought from stores in secured areas, TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said. Some exemptions made last month to the overall ban, which let passengers bring quantities larger than 3 ounces of required prescription medicine, diabetic glucose treatments, and baby formula, remain unchanged.

At Logan International Airport, officials expect to begin greatly expanding sales of special personal toiletry kits as a convenience to people making short trips.

Over the last month, Logan vendors have been offering $13 ``arrival kits" containing trial-size portions of shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, mouthwash, hand lotion, and other products, with different versions for men and women, but only in areas of the airport that serve arriving passengers.

Once airport officials have clearance from the TSA that the boxed kits comply with security rules, Logan will encourage vendors such as Hudson News to offer them for sale at about 12 newsstands between security checkpoints and departure gates, said Sal Amico , airport concessions manager for the Massachusetts Port Authority , which runs Logan.

``It's a great convenience for travelers. It's one stop, and you've got everything you need," Amico said. Sales of to-go beverages at post-checkpoint coffee shops and sandwich stands are also expected to increase because people will no longer have to finish drinking them -- or throw them out -- before boarding , Amico said.

Several Logan travelers interviewed yesterday said they welcomed the change. ``It's a great idea," said Pam Farnham , from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., as she prepared to board a JetBlue Airways flight home. ``There are things that you really need -- like eye drops -- that it's really nice to be able to have on the plane."

Still, many passengers said they have been able to adapt to the ban on carry-on liquids. ``This will definitely be much better than having to check everything, but really that's only been a hassle for me if I'm making a trip when I have a layover" and can't reapply makeup or brush teeth, said Kellie Connelly , an investment manager from San Diego. ``Other than that, it hasn't been a bad deal."

Airlines and leaders in the business travel industry praised the changes too. James May, president of the Air Transport Association, the largest airline industry group, representing carriers of 90 percent of all US passengers and cargo, said, ``It is clear that TSA has performed deliberate and careful risk analysis to identify which items passengers can safely bring on board. It will reduce passenger inconvenience."

Several airlines, including Continental, JetBlue, and US Airways, said they believe the tightened security standards after Aug. 10 cost them revenue by driving away some business passengers who didn't want to deal with the hassle of checking bags for overnight trips in order to bring toiletries.

Canadian transportation minister Lawrence Cannon said his country plans to adopt the new standards today, as well. Michael Jackson , deputy US homeland security secretary, said he expects European countries may align their policies with the North American standards soon.

Despite the change, Jackson said officials still consider liquid carry-on bombs a serious threat and have no plans to reduce the US aviation security alert from orange, its second-highest level, which triggers far more aggressive -- and costly -- security procedures for airlines, police, and airport security officials.

``I don't expect this threat to go away or diminish," Jackson said at a Washington news briefing.

Peter J. Howe can be reached at howe@globe.com.